Electric flatiron



Feb. 27, 1923. 1,446,798 W. T. HOOFN AG LE ELECTRI C FLATIRON Filed' June 1, 1921 sol Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE.

WILLIAM T. HOOFNAGLE, 0F GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO COMFO ELEC- TRIC IRON COMPANY, OF GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC FLATIRON.

Application filed June 1,

To all whom t may concern NAGLE, a citizen of the United States, residingatGlen Ridge. in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have inventedce1'- tain new and uset'ul Improvements in Electric Flat-irons, ot which t-he following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electrically heated flat irons, and more particularly to protective means for preventing the iron from being over-heated and causing damage by scroching or fire, or injury to its own heating element, in case the operator fails to cut oil' the electric current when the iron is not being used.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a recess in the metal body of the iron and within this recess is arranged an ordinary fuse plug, the base terminal of the fuse being in contact with the body of the iron. I also provide in the casing or cover of the iron a sight opening, and beneath this sight opening is arranged a platinum or other nonoxidizable wire, this wire and the fuse being in series with the heating coil in the iron. With this arrangement, while the current is on, the platinum wire becomes heated by the current and more or less luminous so that the operator may, by looking at the wire through the sight opening, determine Whether or not the current is on, and if the operator fails to heed this visual signal and cut oil' the current, when the iron is not in use, then theiron will be automatically cut oli' by the melting of the fuse which will result from its direct contact with the overheated iron body.

In the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a flat i embodying my invention, the enclosing casing of the iron being shown in central sec` tion;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same with the cover and handle removed, the heating `coils being shown in dotted lines and the body of the iron being partly broken Way; and,

Fig. 3 is a section on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2, on a smaller scale.

Referring to the drawing, 1 and 2 indicate the metal parts of the body which are to he heated and between which is clamped the heating coil 3, by bolts 4` passing through the part 2 into the part 1, this arrangement 1921. Serial No. 474,105.

vof parts being Well known. The arms 5 to Be it known that I, VILLTAM T. Hoor'.-

which the handle 6 is secured are connected to the bolts 4, and a top or cover 7 encloses the various parts except the base. The bolts 4 are electrically insulated from the body 2 by washers 4a and bushings 4 and by the cov-v ering oit the heating coil which is usually of mica. In the metal body 2, I provide a recess 8, and mounted upon said body is a socket a, adapted to receive a fuse plug b, such asis ordinarily used on electric lights ing circuits. The socket a comprises the insulating ring 9, having a threaded metal shell 9a, which extends into the recess 8, this shell being screw-threaded and adapted to be engaged by the outer threaded band 10 on the plug. The base terminal 11 ot the plug rests upon the metal body 2, at the bottom of the recess so as to make electrical contact with said body and also in order that the fuse may be heated by the body. A metal rod 12, electrically connected to the shell of the socket by a screw 13, extends transversely of the iron above the body 2, and a platinum or other non-oxidizable wire 14 connects the end of this rod with another metal rod 15, which is secured to one ot the terminals, 16, through which current is supplied to the iron. The other terminal .17 is connected directly to one end of the heating coil 1,8, and the other end of said coil` terminates in a flat metal part 19, which contacts with the bottom of the body 2. The electrical circuit proceeds from the terminal 17, through the heating coil to the contact 19, thence through the metal body 2 to the base terminal of the fuse plug, thence through the fuse 20 to the threaded b'and 10, thence through the shell of the socket to the screwr 13, and from the screw 13, through rod 12, platinum wire 14 and rod 15 to the 'terminal 16. When current is owing through this circuit, the platinum Wire becomes luminous and is visible through a sight opening 21 in the casing 7.

The current is carried tothe iron through the usual flexible cord 22 and socket 23, which fits on to the terminals 16 and 17.

In operation, While the current ison, the Wire 14 is luminousf and if the operator stops using the iron Without cutting off the current, this luminous Wire will indicate to the operator that the current has not been cut olf, and in most cases the operator Will then cut off the current; but should the operator Lanoye@ said i'esisance, body, and fuse plug.

2. ln an electrically heated flat iron, a inetaljbody 'lio be heated, a fuse plug having a neiminal engaging said body, a covei for 15 said body having a sight opening, a filament below said opening, a heating resistance in the iron, and a circuit including said resist. ance, body, fuse plug and ilament.

In testimony whereof l alix my signature. 2G

WlflLlilAM T. HFNAGLE 

